Common questions

Is there a file naming convention that I must follow?

Serengeti provides a powerful search tool that will look to match keywords against the text inside a document as well as the filename of the document. However, for organising documents effectively it is best practice to adhere to the File naming convention.

Do I have any legal obligations when using Serengeti?

Yes; all University staff are required to adhere to the University's policy on Data Protection which covers the use of electronic records in an electronic document management system such as Serengeti. For further advice and guidance please consult the University's Legal, Risk and Compliance department.

Is there a user guide to Serengeti?

This website provides quick reference guides to some of the more common activities/tasks in Serengeti. There is also a IT Services coursebook to support you with using the system. However, if you wish to look at more advanced tasks then you can consult the Serengeti User Manual which is also available to download from the Help menu once you are logged in to the system.

What is the difference between a general user and a super user?

Super users can set file permissions (including sensitivity, i.e. whether another user can even see if a document exists) to maintain confidentiality, and they may also delete documents. Super users are also responsible for managing the permissions of other users in the system. Typically, there is one designated super user per School (i.e. level 2 department).

It is not necessary for all users to be granted the same level of permissions as the designated super users. Super users are designated by Faculties - not by Computing Services.

If you are a general user and have any queries or require support with using Serengeti, you should contact the local super user in the first instance.

Do I need to scan historical documents?

No; the decision has been taken that back scanning of historical documents is not required. If you wish to upload a physical document you should use the Scan to Me facility on any Ricoh machine to produce an electronic copy which can then be uploaded into Serengeti.

Can I use Serengeti away from campus?

The University's position is that it is not appropriate to access Serengeti from home. Remote access at campus locations outside Liverpool can be arranged via the IT Service Desk.

Does Serengeti support Single Sign-On?

Serengeti does support single sign which means staff will not be prompted to login with their MWS credentials in IE9, IE10 and Firefox. However, staff who currently use IE11 will be prompted to login with their MWS credentials; but we hope to have Single Sign-On enabled for IE11 in the near future.